Arshita Matta

A015116720011
IMA – 3 (2020 – 2024)
AIPS
Assignment 2 (Classification of mental disorders)
Ques1. What is classification? Why do we need classification in psychiatry? What
are the chief advantages and disadvantages of having classification systems? 
Ans1.
 The classification of mental disorders is also known as psychiatric
nosology or psychiatric taxonomy. It represents a key aspect
of psychiatry and other mental health professions and is an important issue
for people who may be diagnosed.
 There are currently two widely established systems for classifying mental
disorders:
 The tenth International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) produced
by the World Health Organization (WHO).
 The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)
produced by the American Psychiatric Association (APA).
 Both list categories of disorders thought to be distinct types, and have
deliberately converged their codes in recent revisions so that the manuals
are often broadly comparable, although significant differences remain.

 The classifications currently used in psychiatry have different aims:

 To facilitate communication between researchers and clinicians at
national and international levels through the use of a common
language.
 At least a clearly and precisely defined nomenclature.
 To provide a nosographical reference system which can be used in
practice (diagnosis, prognosis, treatment).
 To optimize research by ensuring that sample cases are as
homogeneous as possible.
 To facilitate statistical records for public health institutions.
  To distinguish one psychiatric diagnosis from another, so that
clinicians can offer the most effective treatment.

 Advantages of having classification system:

 To allow mental health practitioners and researchers to
communicate more effectively with each other.
 This classification is integral part of the most information systems in
our country. Basically, there are two ways of keeping medical
records.
 The old fashioned way to keep all data about the patient is use of
paper medical records that are placed in family medicine office. The
physician enters the information on paper and after that this paper
family record is placed in archive and is not available for patient at
any remote location. In basic set of data that are required for record
ICD code and diagnosis are obligatory.
 Another more modern way of keeping patient record is computer
database. Now, it is possible to search patient record more rapidly
but patient can only access this data while he is in physician’s office.
Medical Records is an easy and comprehensive medical record
keeping software for maintaining your family’s medical history. This
way of medical record can even better utilize ICD classification
because there is more relevant information that are necessary to
code specific disorders.
 The health care provider institutions such as hospitals are subjects
that should facilitate implementation of medical applications that
follows the patient medical condition and facts connected with him.
The list of procedures with their prices can be found in all hospitals
and is used by economist but are of little help for medical workers.
Database should provide the whole picture of current situation. It is
very important that we have tools for analysis of clinical data.
Analysis of data is only way to improve the prevention of future
errors and induce reduction of costs of hospitalization. Using the
database it is possible to reveal all advantages and disadvantages of
some method.
 Disadvantages of having classification system
 The disadvantages are the varying opinions of clinicians on
individuals with the same or similar symptoms, the stigma associated
with labeling, and the potential for a clinician’s biases of individuals
with multicultural needs.
 This classification is not suitable in cases where few or no
information about patient is available. In such case only symptoms of
disease can be coded that can be caused by several different medical
condition that can be regularly coded if we have enough information
to confirm diagnosis.
 The Classification committee of WONCA (World Organization and
Academic Association of the general Practitioners) has produced a
clinical coding system known as ICPC (International Classification for
Primary Care) (1). The release of an updated version ICPC 2 is now
published. ICPC-2 classifies patient data and clinical activity in the
domains of General/Family Practice and primary care, taking into
account the frequency distribution of problems seen in these
domains. It allows classification of the patient’s reason for encounter
(RFE), the problems/diagnosis managed, interventions, and the
ordering of these data in an episode of care structure.
 Above mentioned tasks cannot be achieved using ICD 10
classification. The definitive diagnosis that can be coded using ICD
can be achieved after several visits of patient and rarely during the
first visit.